Gold Extraction

Process Development
Capability Statement

right solutions | right partner

Company
Overview
Australian Laboratory Services (ALS)
commenced operations in Brisbane as
Australian Laboratory Services Pty Ltd
in 1974 as a privately owned company
providing analytical services for the oil
shale and mineral exploration industries.
Australian Laboratory Services (ALS) provides a broad range
of sophisticated, state-of-the-art services to four main market
segments, with a total of 13 unique service offerings:
Minerals Geochemistry | Metallurgy | Mine Site | Inspection
Life Sciences Environmental | Food | Pharmaceutical
Animal Health | Electronics.
Energy Coal | Oil & Gas
Industrial Asset Care | Tribology.

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ALS Metallurgy Gold Extraction Process Development

ALS has demonstrated over 30 years of strong business

performance with global revenues exceeding $1.5 billion. ALS
continues to remain at the forefront of the testing services
industry, building an enviable reputation as the provider of
choice on a global scale.
Processing more than 20 million samples per year, our 13,000
staff operate from over 350 locations in 55 countries. We have
laboratories strategically located around the world, operating
in Australia, Asia, North America, South America, Europe, the
Middle East and Africa; and are one of the largest analytical
laboratory groups in the world.

40

Introduction

years in operation

13k

staff

300+
locations

50+
countries

ALS Metallurgy is part of the ALS Group, a

diversified and global analytical laboratory and
testing services company.
ALS Metallurgy is the global leader in metallurgical testing and
consulting services for mineral process flowsheet development
and optimisation.
Extensive bench scale laboratory, large scale pilot plant
facilities and expert metallurgists, provide mineral processing,
hydrometallurgical, mineralogical and in-plant services to the
global resources community.
Our metallurgical solutions are internationally recognised by the
mining, engineering and financial sectors for all major commodities:
Precious metals gold, silver, platinum group metals
Base metals copper, cobalt, lead, zinc, molybdenum,
manganese
Iron ore hematite, magnetite, goethite, itabirite
Nickel laterite and sulphide ores
Uranium and thorium
Rare earth minerals and other exotics
Mineral sands
Industrial minerals
Tungsten and tin
ALS Metallurgy has an enviable reputation for delivering the highest
quality extractive metallurgical testing service with accurate and
timely data, expert support and a culture of safety and innovation.

Quality
ALS understands the value of data quality and integrity to
exploration and mining companies. Our processes are designed
to ensure clients receive the best quality assay data to assist
informed decision making.

Health, Safety and Environment

Being an employee of ALS is about putting safety first. Globally,
ALS is committed to a safe work culture.

Safety Management
As part of this global approach, ALS has developed an
industry leading standard for managing health, safety and
environmental issues.

Protection of the Environment

ALS has Extensive procedures and policies to ensure Protection
of the Environment. Specific procedures and policies address the
following issues:
Waste Management, Monitoring and Maintenance;
Disaster Management plans for spills;
Management of Solid waste, with recycling where possible.

Capability Statement

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Gold Extraction
Process Development
The metallurgical response of gold ores and concentrates to an extraction
process is determined by a programme of metallurgical testing and
evaluation.
ALS Metallurgys gold extraction process development test work, at both
laboratory and pilot plant scales, minimises your technical risks associated
with the development of gold projects through well-planned, wellmanaged, and well-executed metallurgical testwork programmes.
Gold deposits currently being considered for exploitation are lower
grade and increasingly more complex, so a complete understanding of
the metallurgical response to extraction process options becomes even
more important. Gold mineralogy in each ore deposit is unique and it is
important to accurately consider the process mineralogy which can affect
the gold extraction processing strategy.
ALS Metallurgy works with the international mining, engineering and
financial sectors to develop and demonstrate successful gold extraction
processing strategies by providing you with an accurate understanding and
evaluation of the chemical, mineralogical and metallurgical factors.
The extraction and recovery of gold is becoming increasingly more
complicated and involves nearly all the processes used in extractive
metallurgy. ALS Metallurgys dedicated team of gold metallurgy experts
are experienced in a range of gold ore types including free milling and
refractory ores.
With industry leading expertise in geochemistry, mineralogy and metallurgy,
the ALS Group can provide you with a wide range of services including:

Exploration Services

Geochemical exploration services

Geometallurgy
Advanced mineralogy
Scoping stage metallurgical testing

Process Optimisation,
Pre-Feasibility and Feasibility
Services

Geometallurgy
Ore variability studies
Advanced mineralogy
Metallurgical flowsheet development and optimisation
Continuous pilot plant testing

Production Support
Mine site laboratories
Grade control and daily mill control analytical services
Advanced mineralogy

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ALS Metallurgy Gold Extraction Process Development

Extensive Services
Chemical Analysis

Comminution

Accurate assaying is critical to the success of any gold test work

programme. With a state of the art analytical laboratory onsite at our metallurgical facility, ALS Metallurgy conducts fire
assay, solution analyses for gold and silver, as well as carbon
assays and gold by aqua-regia digest. Results are continually
monitored by a system of QA/QC standards and external round
robin checks.

A range of tests are available for assessing the comminution

parameters for gold ores:

Mineralogy
A complete understanding of how gold is contained within the
minerals present in gold ores is required to successfully design
and operate a gold extraction process for optimum efficiency.
We can fully characterize gold ores through comprehensive
programmes including multi-stage diagnostic leaching, preconcentration, process mineralogy and other complementary
tests. When performed during the exploration and
feasibility stages of the project, such information can
identify and quantify key parameters that might influence
the viability of a project. Information can be
incorporated into geometallurgical models to assist with
reserve and resource estimations and with mine production
planning.
Information on the deportment of the gold assists the design
of gold recovery circuits and, when done routinely, ensures
continued optimization of existing processes and the ongoing
profitability of the mining operation.
Apart from obtaining quantitative data on the gold minerals
themselves, mineralogical data is also provided on the
associated host rock minerals including potentially deleterious
minerals such as preg-robbers and environmentally
undesirable elements.

Sample Preparation, Screening

and Analysis
Our extensive crushing, screening and splitting equipment
ensures that accurate representative samples are produced.
Test samples from a few kilograms to many tonnes can be
prepared and treated. Particle size distribution determination
can be conducted via screening methods. For finer particles,
i.e. less than 38m, cyclo-sizing can be conducted with the finer
fractions being collected and assayed. Apparent relative density
determinations and true SG determinations are also conducted.

Autogenous media competency

Bond abrasion index
Bond ball mill work index
Bond impact crushing work index
Bond rod mill work index
Comparative work index
High pressure grinding rolls (HPGR) up to 10tph
Inferred work index
JK drop-weight test
Levin open circuit grindability
Pilot SABC (AG/SAG) up to 4tph
Point load test
SAGDesign (Starkey)
SAG mill comminution (SMC) test
Ultra fine grinding
Unconfined compressive strength

Gravity Concentration
Gravity separation and concentration equipment are available
to recover free gold prior to cyanidation. Spirals, tables,
jigs, hydrocyclones, batch Knelson, batch Falcon, pilot scale
Falcon concentrators, heavy liquid separation up to 4.05SG,
amalgamation and intensive cyanidation (ILR) can be used to
enhance the economics of gold recovery.

Pre-leach oxygenation
treatment
Pre-leach oxygenation of ores that contain pyrrhotite and
other labile sulphides is often carried out to satisfy the oxygen
demand of leach slurries. This is not oxidation of sulphides as
such but rather oxygenation of leach pulps. Often lead nitrate
is also included at this pre-treatment stage.

Cyanidation Free Milling Ores

Our fully equipped, dedicated gold laboratory provides specialised
testing services for gold recovery by cyanidation in bottle rolls or
mechanical agitation in vats. Cyanidation leaching of free-milling
ores including batch leaching tests to determine the effect of
grind size, pH, cyanide solution strength, influence of dissolved
oxygen concentration, influence of leach accelerants (such as lead
nitrate and other chemicals) and leach time can be performed.
Tests can be on samples from 0.50kg up to 2000kg. Plant design
data generation such as slurry rheology measurements, oxygen
uptake rate determinations, slurry flocculation/settling and
filtration test work can also be conducted.
Capability Statement

|5

Carbon-In-Pulp (CIP) and Carbon-In-Leach (CIL)

The loading of gold onto activated carbon can be described by the Fleming equation. ALS Metallurgy can carry out sequential batch
carbon loading tests to determine the Fleming constants k and n. The Fleming constants are used by consulting engineers to size
CIP contactors. Pilot scale CIP facilities are available to confirm laboratory test results.
Some gold bearing ores also contain active constituents which adsorb the leached gold and thus reduce gold recovery. The use of
CIL can reduce or eliminate the loss of gold by the process of competitive adsorption. ALS Metallurgy can perform laboratory scale
CIL tests and compare the results with conventional cyanidation. Pilot scale CIL test programmes can also be performed.

Cyanidation Heap Leach

Column leaching using cyanide solution to assess heap-leaching
potential of gold bearing ores can be conducted using columns
ranging from 100mm diameter x 1m high to 1.8m diameter
x 10m high. All columns are made in-house according to the
client/project specifications (for example, sectional columns,
one piece units, jacketed for temperature control).
We have expertise with agglomeration tests involving a
range of selected additives to bind fine particles in order
to improve the percolation characteristics of that sample.
Standard percolation tests to optimise the ability of a sample
to allow solution through the bed and provide a means of
measuring the effectiveness of the agglomeration process
can be performed.
Typically, the majority of these tests involve 1.5 2.0m high
columns of 190mm diameter and can be run in either open
or closed circuit configuration. For both circuit configurations,
metal can be recovered from the leach solution using an
appropriate method (e.g. carbon adsorption, precipitation,
solvent extraction, etc.). For re-circulated solutions, reagents
are adjusted as necessary.
Larger scale tests using 4m, 6m, 7m, 8m and 10m high
columns at the same 190mm diameter can be run. Larger
diameter columns up to 1.8m have been tested, although
often limitations on the amount of available ore see most
clients revert back to the nominal 190mm diameter columns.
ALS Metallurgy has also conducted sequential column tests
whereby leach solution from one column is used to irrigate
a second column in series. Pregnant leach solutions can be
passed through activated carbon columns and the regenerated
cyanide solution recycled.
Other design data such as heap slumpage and actual
percolation rates can be evaluated during the column leach
cyanidation testwork.

Flotation
Batch testing can be conducted on refractory ores to optimise
flotation performance.
Pilot scale continuous flotation testing can then be conducted
to confirm the batch test data and to produce sufficient gold
concentrate for refractory testing.
Flotation tests, both batch and continuous piloting, have been
conducted to recover sulphide associated gold.

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ALS Metallurgy Gold Extraction Process Development

Refractory Ores

BIOX Oxidation

Treatment of various types of refractory ores have been assessed

including arsenopyrite, pyrite and copper sulphide ore.

Our gold laboratory is BIOX equipped to pre-treat refractory

sulphide gold ores such as pyrite, arsenopyrite and pyrrhotite.

Roasting

Bacterial Oxidation

Refractory sulphide ores can be roasted to produce a calcine

amenable to cyanidation. A Dorr-Oliver pilot roasting unit is
available to study the roasting of sulphide concentrates. Batch
muffle tests and batch rotary kiln reactor tests can precede
pilot scale testing in a continuous 4 inch continuous fluid
bed roaster to establish the influence of gas composition,
temperature and the roasting scheme to be used. The calcine
products from the roasting oxidation are cyanide leached using
conventional methods. Feed material for roasting studies are
usually produced by laboratory or pilot scale flotation tests.

Several strains of bugs are available for these tests or the

bugs inherent to the ore can be cultured for the tests. Batch
and pilot scale facilities are available.

Activox Oxidation
Low temperature pressure oxidation is available for batch to
continuous piloting tests.

Gold bearing, Copper-rich

sulphide ores
Ores containing soluble copper can have very high cyanide
consumption. Ammoniacal cyanidation can dramatically
reduce the overall level of cyanide consumption and we
can carry out leach tests to optimise reagent conditions. Our
expertise covers all aspects of processing copper-rich sulphide
ores, from flotation to selective leaching, CIP, elution and fully
integrated electrowinning circuits.

Cyanide Detoxification
Ultra Fine Grinding
Some refractory ores such as those containing pyritic gold can
benefit from very fine grinding prior to cyanidation. Several
technologies including IsaMillTM, Metso Verti-mill and Stirred
Media Detritor (SMD), Deswik, and Metprotech are available
to grind ores or concentrates to as fine as 2-3m to liberate
fine particulate gold.

Pressure Cyanidation
These tests are performed at ambient temperature with oxygen.

Pressure Oxidation
Refractory ores where gold is contained within sulphides,
such as pyrite or arsenopyrite, can be chemically oxidised to
enhance gold recovery. Oxidation is carried out in an autoclave
at temperatures of 180 240 Deg. C and at oxygen pressures
up to 3000kPa. Batch oxidation tests are conducted in a 3.8
litre Parr autoclave. The pressure leach residue is neutralised
by washing with lime and then leached using conventional
cyanidation methods.

Expertise covering all common technologies including

hydrogen peroxide, Caros Acid, sulphur dioxide/air, ferrous
sulphate to bacterially assisted detoxification.

Carbon Characterisation
All the industry standard carbon tests can be conducted to
assist in carbon selection and optimisation, including ASTM
ball pan hardness, attrition testing in a rotary tumbler for 24
hours and adsorption testing using gold solutions or slurries
with the calculation of kinetic rate constants.

Recovery from solution

Cyanide leach solutions can be treated via carbon
adsorption, the Merrill-Crowe zinc precipitation process and
electrowinning.

Filtration/Settling
Many ores, particularly those with significant clay content,
may exhibit poor filtration and/or settling characteristics.
ALS Metallurgy works closely with suppliers of equipment
and reagents to conduct batch tests to assess these unit
operations in our laboratories.

Capability Statement

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Australia
Perth
6 MacAdam Place, Balcatta,
Western Australia 6021
T +61 8 9344 2416
F +61 8 9345 4688
E metallurgy@alsglobal.com

North America
Kamloops
2957 Bowers Place,
Kamloops BC V1S 1W5 Canada
T +1 250 828 6157
E metallurgy.kamloops@alsglobal.com

Latin America
Santiago Mineral Services Centre
Hermanos Carrera Pinto 159
Parque Industrial Los Libertadores Colina,
Santiago, Chile
T +56 2 2654 6100
F +56 2 2654 6163
E Santiago.MineralServices@alsglobal.com

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